Chair



A. E. GAVERTH Oct. 7, 1941;

CHAIR Filed Jan. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to articles of furniture "adapted for the convenience of invalids.

One of the main objects of myinvention is to provide a chair or similar article of furniture for invalids, embodying a structure in the chair which will adapt it for use as a walking support for invalids.

Another object of my invention is to provide a seat which may be compactly folded up in alignment with the back of the chair and extensible arm rests articulately secured to the chair arm rests, which will enable an invalid to use the article of furniture as a convenientsupport for both arms below the elbow thus enabling an invalid to use my invention as a walking support. I Another object of my invention is to provide a foldable foot rest which may be compactly secured to the side frame comprising apart of my invention so that it will not interfere with the use of my invention when it is transformed to a walking support.

- Another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable and slidable back rest for positioning the same for the maximum comfort to invalids, when my invention is used as a chair.

Another object of my invention is to provide -a split seat arrangement which will permit one half section of the seat to incline at an angle whereas the other section will permit the leg of a person seated thereon to hang in normal position.

Another object of my invention is to provide an article of furniture to be described which may be readily and conveniently taken apart and thus be more compact for transportation or for carrying along in the compartment provided for this purpose in an automobile.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple, practical, useful article of the character to be described, which will also be economical to manufacture in quantity production.

Other features and advantages resident in my invention will become apparent by referring to Fig. 5 shows a detailed View of the seat structure.

Fig. 6 shows a view of the central tie rod member to permit theseat to articulate. thereon.

Fig. '7 shows a view of one of the tie rods used in assembling the different parts comprising my invention. Referring to the drawings, especially Figures 1 and 2, I show my invention comprised of a number of structural details. The numeral 8 generally designates my invention, and the numeral 9 indicates a person in dotted lines shown in position ready to use my invention for walking purposes.

The arms below the elbow rest on the secondary arm rest l3 of my invention, the distance of the secondary arm rest l3 from the floor for a normal person of average height being approximately four feet.

My invention comprises two side frame members as indicated in the structural details Figure 3 which are made up of the following parts; the back frame member I1 is shaped approximately as indicated and. is provided with a ledge portion 53 in order to support the member it of a standard latch arrangement or device, the other portion being secured to the member i4 comprising the top arm support of the secondary arm rest l3 of my invention.

The device I5 is a spring bolt of a standard .type which snaps into engagement automatically with the recess provided in the member It, so that when the member Iii is swung up, the bolt in themember 15 Will engage the recess in the secured to the member 2|, and a lower member 3|, rigidly secured to the said front and rear members 24 and 23 respectively. 0 j

To the lower member 3] .which is suitably mortised out, is secured the back frame member 11, which is preferably tapered at the lower edge 33 in order to reduce thecross-s'ectional dimension of the tenon which is to be formed thereon indicated at 34, and which is to be fitted rigidly to the mortised recess in the members 3|.

The back frame member I! is placed preferably in an angular position the purpose of which is readily obvious in order to arrange the chair so as to provide an inclined plane for adjusting the back rest in an inclined position as indicated.

The secondary arm rest frame-work I9 is attached to the primary arm rest frame-work by virtue of standard hinges designated 28 which permits the members {,0 to be raised in an upward position and held in that position by the locking devices I5 and [6, or when the article of support or walking aid to a person.

Moreover, the member In may be folded down- 7 wardly as indicated in dotted position in the The member 3| in the view Figure 2 on the left hand side has secured thereto a foot rest abutting member 5| having a notched portion 52 in order to receive in rigid abutting relationship the foot rest when the device is used as a chair.

The foot rest is articulately secured to the member 24 by the stud 26 and the wing nut 21.

In certain instances it may be required to support invalids with their lower extremities in a raised position, and by virtue of the articulate structure of the seat 31 heretofore explained, the seat 31 may be lifted above or below the horizontal plane by virtue of the tie rod member 36 which is similar to the tie rod member I8 and which is furnished with a reduced shoulder extenfront View of Figure 2, in which case the article a is used as a chair and the arm rests ZI are used for the convenience of resting the arms of a person reclining on the chair.

The lower member of the frame-work 3| is mounted on suitable. universal casters 32 which will permit the. device to be. wheeled about in any direction desirable.

It is also to be. noticed that the members Hi When folded downwardly as indicated in dotted position are, provided at their upper portion with suitable. upholstery designated 42 in order that an invalid resting on the chair who may rest his arm on the upholstered portion 2| and also. on theupholstered portion 42 will find absolute comfort.

My invention is preferably assembled in the units shown, namely, there. are. two units of the Y combined detailed structure. as. explained in the f re oing description as illustrated in Figure 3, hayin th backframev m mbers. H which are provided with suitable holes to receive the tie msisld and .5. i lust ated t evie y Fi ur 6 hhdli sure 7; whereestherod 3. 3s. sed tov posii eh arti u ates. th sh l siri 31 whic i 9lnrli sel "Q; a. tw P e e. rran ement. se tions 0 and 4' Suitably hhh lstsr nd hihseil y 2 hfolded themannersuggestively indicated by thedo'tted IinesFigure '1 l The inemberslb'a'ndll by virtue of the h nge arraiig'einent may be folded back one upon the other and the folded arrangement of the seat brought into alignmentwith the rear portion IT or the hollow portion behind the portion l'!" of the back frame members 1'1.

The seat 3-! has "a cleat 38jsecur'ely attached thereto which is suitably bored in order to receive the body-"portion'of the tie'rod '35 which'is provided with a reduced shoulder portion 4''! and a further reduced shoulder which is suitably threaded in order to receive the washers and the nuts H] for tieing up the frame-work suitably.

'-The tie rods 18 are inserted in the holes at the top and bottom ofthe back frame member I1, and suitable washers and lock-nuts I-3 secured to the reduced threaded shoulder extension 43in order to tie up the frame-work rigidly and securely.

Each side frame-work maybe provided with one or more side-cleats for reinforcement of the. article of furniture generally, or -may embody any other structural arrangement known to the art for'strength purposes. 7

The. front member. 241 is provided with a recessed portion 222! in--order-=-to accommodate the footrest '25, when, it is, desired. toiusetheitem as a walking'aid orisupport.

washers and. Wing-nuts 29.

The front member 24, is provided with an elongated slotted recess 28 on each side in order to, receive, the. reduced shoulder. pa ied 4. of the tie rod iii-Land hus. by mov es. he od 3H9 a plane ot er han the h rizon al lane. the win -nuts ti h enin he. rod. n hold n t i a certain sition wil provid a se t at an. nclined position to the des re ane ethet ma herequired- In some instances however, the patient. or in;- a id ec in n i the chai ma al-re. maintamin ne l n. he. raised. r n u ar position. wher as he. atient may nd mor com-f rth kee ing t e o h le t- .61 norma manner rest,- inson he o rest. when; 1 h dcttedn itloe ndi a ed. i F ure-2:.

n ha event v ewee t e sea ilL E? 2., he a may al hc arted. a t e ehthr s. ndicated y a. ott d. ine. .4. hatther sht ireft h d por ion may h li ed i depen entl n QI Q' JQB f; h sea o ded hack. on the line ehdtheh t rned abo t the. fu rum and he QQl. P d a semb y of he ri h r e t. section lace tween the portion 11 of the member-1;! permi t n t e erso o e t on. he renami eat. ec w th. ne leg hor zonta ntler-1s leg norma y e in o he oo r s r he remaining se t. se t on m y be addic ed o. a

an u a p si ion within h c n i es of l .8;- The a dicat d; n he dre cehesheeh llus ated i uch n t o s e a ns ances here t. i e ui d supe rt. o h. e s it her zh tal acif e up o nd; nc udin the. fee Eithhr f h tw rom s atnq ie s rodhqed as h esult of rl tilne h ca portionmay he a an ed; t h dow ward y by f ldin the irec i n in ic ted at otted l n s 0. F ureau n he pl t ea phr ionto. cle rheme. 3e and thus provide comfortable seating for a patient With i h e suppo ted in a or zon-tal, position, he ema n n lee n a normal-posi ion, resting'on the foot rest 25,

T e a may be made cons derably shorter than indicated in Figure 1, in order to 'beable to p rt he same as. indicated at 5.4.- so. as topermit in th view Figured and designated. 44; and is provided withwo xtenslon ledges 45; oneon'each side, pr v ed; w h. th t e por io 45- he slotted portion 46 cooperates with the thumb cr ws 4:9'W c av xtensions 50 threadedinto the back frame member [1, so as to; enable ione most, desirable andcomfortable position for a personsiback when seated lt will permit the backfrnember 43'to be positioned so that theback 'f'of a 'person" is'j'supported and"not the head, orit mayfbe raised to where'the upper portion of the back and the. headmay recline comfortably thereion; or any otherposition permissible thru the range of adjustment provided.

The foot rest member 25is indicated in full lines'in the position it will occupy in the View Figure 1 and Figure 2 when my invention is used as a walking aid, in which event the seat will be collapsed as heretofore described, and be in alignment with the space between the portions ll of the back frame members l'l.

When sitting in the chair, the invalid may be wheeled about by any person or nurse who is taking care of the individual. When the seat is folded up, the members 40 and 4| are made to coincide and the collapsed assembly of the seat is positioned within the confines of the portion l1 between the members I! hence, the individual or patient may utilize the device as a walking aid, and this is clearly depicted and illustrated by the figure of a person designated by the numeral 9 shown in Figure 1.

The universal casters permit movement in any direction and a patient is given firm support by virtue of the secondary arm rests l3 and walks with greater confidence.

My invention may be used as a wheeled chair when it is set up as shown by the full lines in Figure 1, except that the secondary arm rests l3 are folded down to the dotted position indicated in Figure 2. In which event the foot rest 25 is in the position shown by the dotted lines Figure 2. In this position one of the seat sectional assemblies (caused by partition at 54 Figure 2) may be folded back and confined within the spaces l'l thus permitting one limb to assume a horizontal or inclined position and the other limb normally resting on foot rest 25. If desired, the person reclining on my invention may be wheeled about by someone.

My invention may be used as a walking aid by simple and slight transformation. First the seat sections 49 and 4| (four sections comprising the seat when the seat is parted on the lines 54 Figure 2) are folded over congruently by virtue of hinges 39 and then turned about the fulcrum 35 to be concealed between the portion II. The foot rest 25 is caused to be raised until it coincides with the recess 22 and the thumb screw 21 tightened. The secondary arm rests l3 are in the position shown in full lines in Figure 1. A person may step within the opening of my'invention facing in the position indicated by the dotted figure of a person standing up (see Figure 1) and rest his elbows and arms on the upholstered portions of the secondary arm rests l4 and push the walker forward which action is facilitated by the casters 32.

When it is desired to take the article of furniture to a camp, or when it is desired to transport the same, it can readily be done by removing the rods I8, 35, and 36 and placing the two end frame works together, the seat, back members, and the tie rods in a more compact arrangement. Arranged in this compact form it may be transported about and readily assembled when the destination is reached.

Altho, I have shown a preferred form of my invention, I reserve the right to all modification and improvements encompassed within the spirit and scope 91} my invention; my invention to be limited" only tothe appended claims.

" "Having thus; described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an article :of'furniture, side frame members rigidly secured in laterally spaced relation, a back frame at the rear edge of said side frames and rigidly secured thereto, a seat frame extending between said side framesand pivoted to said back frame and foldable thereagainst, pri 'mary arm rests mounted. on the side frames and secondary arm rests hinged to said primary arm rests to extend vertically thereabove or to fold downwardly alongside said side frames, and means releasably securing said secondary arm rests in the vertical position.

2. In an article of furniture, in combination with side frame members, and a seat frame comprising, two members hingedly secured, one of said seat members being articulately secured between the said side frame members, the remaining seat member divided into two portions adapted to be independently placed in operative position, adjustable positioning means secured to the front of the said side frame members adapted to vary the height of the forward portion of the said seat member, the said positioning means comprising slotted portions in the front uprights of said side frame members, a rod member secured to the said slotted portions, and lock nut means for securing adjustably the said rod member in fixed position.

3. An article of furniture comprising, side frame members rigidly secured in laterally spaced relation, a back frame at the rear edge of said side frames and rigidly secured thereto, a seat frame extending between said side frames and pivoted to said back frame and foldable thereagainst, the said seat frame comprising, two members hingedly secured, one of said seat members articulately secured between the said side frame members, the remaining seat member divided into two portions adapted to be independently placed in operative position, primary arm rests mounted in the side frames and secondary arm rests hinged to said primary arm rests to extend vertically thereabove or to fold downwardly alongside said side frames, and means releasably securing said secondary arm rests in the vertical position.

4. An article of furniture comprising, side frame members rigidly secured in laterally spaced relation, a back frame at the rear edge of said side frames and rigidly secured thereto, a seat frame extending between said side frames and pivoted to said back frame and foldable thereagainst, the said seat frame comprising two members hingedly secured, one of said seat members articulately secured between the said side frame members, the remaining seat member divided into two portions adapted to be independently placed in operative position, primary arm rests mounted on the side frames and secondary arm rests hinged to said primary arm rests to extend vertically thereabove or to fold downwardly alongside said side frames, means releasably securing said secondary arm rests in the vertical position, and a concealable foot rest member articulately secured to one side frame member and adapted to be supported on the other side frame member.

5. An article of furniture comprising, side frame members rigidly secured in laterally spaced relation, a back frame at the rear edge of said side frames and rigidly secured thereto, a seat f m x d n b tw en 1 9 1 d? i 'a m d pivoted to said; backfremeendioldable thereasai st, e said seat ra me'wmprisin s two members hingedly secured, one of said seat members articulately secured between the said side frame members, the remaining seat members divided into two portions. adeptedto be independently pl ed iii operative p s on, pr mary arm rests mounted in the side frames and secondary leasably securing said secondary ar rests in t e rtisalt p ition, and adjustable positioni g means. secured to the iront vof the said frame members. adapted to' vary the height of the Inn: Ward portion of the, said seat frame, the said means comprising, slotted portions in the {rent nprightstoi said, side frame members, a, rod mem. ber senured to the said slotted portions, and lock nut means for securing adjustably the said arm rests hinged to said primary arm rests to L0 rqd member in fixed position.

extend vertically thereabbve or to! fold down: ward y al n side aid s de f ames, means re- AXEL E. GAVERTH- 

